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Zechariah 5

BSB·11 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Againוָאָשׁ֕וּבwā·’ā·šūḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → I lifted upוָאֶשָּׂ֥אwā·’eś·śā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → my eyesעֵינַ֖י‘ê·nay — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → and sawוָֽאֶרְאֶ֑הwā·’er·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → before meוְהִנֵּ֖הwə·hin·nêh — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study → a flyingעָפָֽה׃‘ā·p̄āh — to fly; to faint or grow wearyH5774 — Full Word Study → scrollמְגִלָּ֥הmə·ḡil·lāh — scroll or written document rollH4039 — Full Word Study →. 2Whatמָ֥הmāh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → do youאַתָּ֖ה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → seeרֹאֶ֑הrō·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study →?” asked the angel. “Iאֲנִ֤י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → seeרֹאֶה֙rō·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → a flyingעָפָ֔ה‘ā·p̄āh — to fly; to faint or grow wearyH5774 — Full Word Study → scrollמְגִלָּ֣הmə·ḡil·lāh — scroll or written document rollH4039 — Full Word Study →,” I repliedוָאֹמַ֗רwā·’ō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “twentyעֶשְׂרִ֣ים‘eś·rîm — The number twenty; a complete group or scoreH6242 — Full Word Study → cubitsבָּֽאַמָּ֔הbā·’am·māh — Cubit; forearm; unit of linear measurementH520 — Full Word Study → longאָרְכָּהּ֙’ā·rə·kāh — Length, duration, or extensivenessH753 — Full Word Study → and tenעֶ֥שֶׂר‘e·śer — The number ten; a complete group or setH6235 — Full Word Study → cubitsבָּאַמָּֽה׃bā·’am·māh — Cubit; forearm; unit of linear measurementH520 — Full Word Study → wideוְרָחְבָּ֖הּwə·rā·ḥə·bāh — width, breadth, or expanseH7341 — Full Word Study →.” 3Then he toldוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → meאֵלַ֔י’ê·lay — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →, “Thisזֹ֚אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study → is the curseהָֽאָלָ֔הhā·’ā·lāh — oath, curse, sworn agreementH423 — Full Word Study → that is going outהַיּוֹצֵ֖אתhay·yō·w·ṣêṯ — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → overעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the faceפְּנֵ֣יpə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → of allכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the landהָאָ֑רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, forכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → according to one side of the scroll, everyכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → thiefהַגֹּנֵ֗בhag·gō·nêḇ — to steal; to take secretly or by stealthH1589 — Full Word Study → will be removedנִקָּ֔הniq·qāh — to be clean, innocent, or acquittedH5352 — Full Word Study →; and according toכָּמ֥וֹהָkā·mō·w·hā — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study → the other sideמִזֶּ֖הmiz·zeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study →, everyוְכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → perjurerהַנִּ֨שְׁבָּ֔עhan·niš·bā‘ — To swear an oath; to bind oneself by solemn promiseH7650 — Full Word Study → will be removedנִקָּֽה׃niq·qāh — to be clean, innocent, or acquittedH5352 — Full Word Study →. 4I will send it outהוֹצֵאתִ֗יהָhō·w·ṣê·ṯî·hā — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study →, declaresנְאֻם֙nə·’um — A solemn declaration; utterance of GodH5002 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → of Hostsצְבָא֔וֹתṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ — army, host, or organized military forceH6635 — Full Word Study →, and it will enterוּבָ֙אָה֙ū·ḇā·’āh — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → the houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of the thiefהַגַּנָּ֔בhag·gan·nāḇ — thief; one who stealsH1590 — Full Word Study → and the houseבֵּ֛יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of him who swearsהַנִּשְׁבָּ֥עhan·niš·bā‘ — To swear an oath; to bind oneself by solemn promiseH7650 — Full Word Study → falselyלַשָּׁ֑קֶרlaš·šā·qer — Deception, falsehood, lieH8267 — Full Word Study → by My nameבִּשְׁמִ֖יbiš·mî — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →. It will remainוְלָ֙נֶה֙wə·lā·neh — to lodge, dwell, or remain (overnight or permanently)H3885 — Full Word Study → insideבְּת֣וֹךְbə·ṯō·wḵ — midst, among, between, throughH8432 — Full Word Study → his houseבֵּית֔וֹbê·ṯōw — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → and destroy itוְכִלַּ֖תּוּwə·ḵil·lat·tū — to finish, complete, or bring to an endH3615 — Full Word Study →, down to its timbersעֵצָ֥יו‘ê·ṣāw — Tree; wood; timberH6086 — Full Word Study → and stonesאֲבָנָֽיו׃’ă·ḇā·nāw — Stone; rock; precious stoneH68 — Full Word Study →.” 5Then the angelהַמַּלְאָ֖ךְham·mal·’āḵ — messenger; angel; envoyH4397 — Full Word Study → who was speakingהַדֹּבֵ֣רhad·dō·ḇêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → with me came forwardוַיֵּצֵ֕אway·yê·ṣê — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → and toldוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → meאֵלַ֔י’ê·lay — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →, “Nowנָ֤אnā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study → lift upשָׂ֣אśā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → your eyesעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙‘ê·ne·ḵā — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → and seeוּרְאֵ֔הū·rə·’êh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → whatמָ֖הmāh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → is approachingהַיּוֹצֵ֥אתhay·yō·w·ṣêṯ — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study →.” 6Whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → is itהִ֑יאhî — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study →?” I askedוָאֹמַ֖רwā·’ō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →. And he repliedוַיֹּ֗אמֶרway·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “A measuring basketהָֽאֵיפָה֙hā·’ê·p̄āh — A dry measure of grain; a unit of capacityH374 — Full Word Study → is going forthהַיּוֹצֵ֔אתhay·yō·w·ṣêṯ — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study →.” Then he continuedוַיֹּ֕אמֶרway·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Thisזֹ֥אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study → is their iniquityעֵינָ֖ם‘ê·nām — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → in allבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the landהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →.” 7And beholdוְהִנֵּ֛הwə·hin·nêh — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study →, the coverכִּכַּ֥רkik·kar — circular loaf; disk-shaped object; plainH3603 — Full Word Study → of leadעֹפֶ֖רֶת‘ō·p̄e·reṯ — Lead (metal)H5777 — Full Word Study → was raisedנִשֵּׂ֑אתniś·śêṯ — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study →, and there wasאַחַ֔ת’a·ḥaṯ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → a womanאִשָּׁ֣ה’iš·šāh — Woman; wife; femaleH802 — Full Word Study → sittingיוֹשֶׁ֖בֶתyō·wō·še·ḇeṯ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → insideבְּת֥וֹךְbə·ṯō·wḵ — midst, among, between, throughH8432 — Full Word Study → the basketהָאֵיפָֽה׃hā·’ê·p̄āh — A dry measure of grain; a unit of capacityH374 — Full Word Study →. 8Thisזֹ֣אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study → is Wickednessהָרִשְׁעָ֔הhā·riš·‘āh — Wickedness, depravity, evil conductH7564 — Full Word Study →,” he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →. And he shoved her downוַיַּשְׁלֵ֥ךְway·yaš·lêḵ — to throw, cast, or hurlH7993 — Full Word Study → intoאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the basketהָֽאֵיפָ֑הhā·’ê·p̄āh — A dry measure of grain; a unit of capacityH374 — Full Word Study →, pushing downוַיַּשְׁלֵ֛ךְway·yaš·lêḵ — to throw, cast, or hurlH7993 — Full Word Study → the leadהָעֹפֶ֖רֶתhā·‘ō·p̄e·reṯ — Lead (metal)H5777 — Full Word Study → coverאֶ֥בֶן’e·ḇen — Stone; rock; precious stoneH68 — Full Word Study → overאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → its openingפִּֽיהָ׃סpî·hā — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. 9Then I liftedוָאֶשָּׂ֨אwā·’eś·śā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → up my eyesעֵינַ֜י‘ê·nay — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → and sawוָאֵ֗רֶאwā·’ê·re — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → twoשְׁתַּ֨יִםšə·ta·yim — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → womenנָשִׁ֤יםnā·šîm — Woman; wife; femaleH802 — Full Word Study → approachingיֽוֹצְאוֹת֙yō·wṣ·’ō·wṯ — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study →, with the windוְר֣וּחַwə·rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study → in their wingsבְּכַנְפֵיהֶ֔םbə·ḵan·p̄ê·hem — wing; edge, border, cornerH3671 — Full Word Study →. Their wingsכְנָפַ֖יִםḵə·nā·p̄a·yim — wing; edge, border, cornerH3671 — Full Word Study → were like thoseכְּכַנְפֵ֣יkə·ḵan·p̄ê — wing; edge, border, cornerH3671 — Full Word Study → of a storkהַחֲסִידָ֑הha·ḥă·sî·ḏāh — Stork, a large wading birdH2624 — Full Word Study →, and they lifted upוַתִּשֶּׂ֙אנָה֙wat·tiś·śe·nāh — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → the basketהָ֣אֵיפָ֔הhā·’ê·p̄āh — A dry measure of grain; a unit of capacityH374 — Full Word Study → betweenבֵּ֥יןbên — between, among, in the midst ofH996 — Full Word Study → heavenהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃haš·šā·mā·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → andוּבֵ֥יןū·ḇên — between, among, in the midst ofH996 — Full Word Study → earthהָאָ֖רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 10Whereאָ֛נָה’ā·nāh — Where? Whither? (interrogative/indefinite adverb of place)H575 — Full Word Study → are theyהֵ֥מָּהhêm·māh — They, them (masculine plural pronoun)H1992 — Full Word Study → takingמֽוֹלִכ֖וֹתmō·w·li·ḵō·wṯ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → the basketהָאֵיפָֽה׃hā·’ê·p̄āh — A dry measure of grain; a unit of capacityH374 — Full Word Study →?” I askedוָאֹמַ֕רwā·’ō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → the angelהַמַּלְאָ֖ךְham·mal·’āḵ — messenger; angel; envoyH4397 — Full Word Study → who was speakingהַדֹּבֵ֣רhad·dō·ḇêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → with me. 11To buildלִבְנֽוֹת־liḇ·nō·wṯ- — to build, construct, establishH1129 — Full Word Study → a houseבַ֖יִתḇa·yiṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → for it in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbə·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of Shinarשִׁנְעָ֑רšin·‘ār — Ancient Mesopotamian regionH8152 — Full Word Study →,” he toldוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → meאֵלַ֔י’ê·lay — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →. “And when it is readyוְהוּכַ֛ןwə·hū·ḵan — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study →, the basket will be setוְהֻנִּ֥יחָהwə·hun·nî·ḥāh — To rest, cease, or remain in a state of quietnessH5117 — Full Word Study → thereשָּׁ֖םšām — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → its pedestalמְכֻנָתָֽהּ׃סmə·ḵu·nā·ṯāh — base, stand, pedestalH4369 — Full Word Study →.”
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Chapter Commentary — Zechariah 5
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Zechariah chapter 5 presents two striking visions that reveal God's judgment against sin and His ultimate plan to remove wickedness from the earth. The first vision (verses 1–4) shows a flying scroll inscribed with God's curse against theft and false swearing, representing divine judgment that will penetrate the homes of the unrepentant. The second vision (verses 5–11) depicts wickedness itself being sealed in an ephah (a large measuring vessel) and transported to a distant land, symbolizing God's sovereign removal of iniquity and the establishment of righteousness. Together, these visions assure God's people that He takes sin seriously, judges it faithfully, and will ultimately cleanse His creation of evil.

The Flying Scroll of Judgment (Verses 1–4)

Zechariah begins this vision by seeing a massive flying scroll, measuring twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide—roughly 30 feet by 15 feet, the same dimensions as the Holy of Holies in Solomon's Temple. This is no ordinary document. The angel interprets it as the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth (verse 3). Specifically, this curse targets two grave sins: theft and false swearing. These represent both horizontal sin (stealing from others) and vertical sin (breaking covenant with God through false oaths).

In verse 4, God promises that this curse will actively enter the houses of offenders—both the thief and the one who swears falsely by God's name—and consume their homes completely. This is not merely abstract judgment; it is concrete, personal, and inescapable. The message is clear: God's judgment against sin is real and will overtake the unrepentant. For believers, this serves as a serious reminder that God hates dishonesty and covenant-breaking, and that His eye is upon all our dealings.

The Ephah of Wickedness (Verses 5–11)

In the second vision, Zechariah sees an ephah—a large dry measure used for grain—emerging from the earth. The angel explains that this vessel represents how wickedness spreads throughout the land (verse 6). But then a woman appears sitting inside the ephah (verse 7). The angel declares plainly: This is wickedness (verse 8). He then casts this woman back into the ephah and seals it shut with a heavy lead talent, trapping wickedness inside.

Two women with stork-like wings then lift the ephah between heaven and earth (verse 9). When asked where they are taking it, the angel responds: To build it an house in the land of Shinar (verse 11)—an ancient name for Babylon, the historic seat of human rebellion against God. The wickedness will be established and removed from God's holy land, taken to the place of its spiritual origin.

This vision reveals a profound truth: God will not leave wickedness dwelling in His kingdom. Just as Babylon was the center of ancient idolatry and pride, all sin ultimately belongs to that realm of rebellion. God sovereignly removes it from His people and from His purposes.

Application for Today

These visions call us to both reverence and hope. We should take sin seriously—theft, false witness, broken promises—knowing that God sees all and will judge. Yet we are also assured that wickedness does not have the final word. If we belong to Christ, we are protected from the curse; His blood has satisfied God's judgment against us. At the same time, we should cooperate with the Holy Spirit in expelling sin from our hearts and communities, trusting that God's ultimate plan includes the complete removal of all wickedness from His eternal kingdom.

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